Government vehicle examiners are to be given the same powers as the police to issue graduated, fixed-penalty points for speeding.

At present, the role of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency examiners is confined to checking the road worthiness of lorries and other vehicles, and ensuring that lorry-drivers are not endangering lives by spending too long behind the wheel.

Road safety minister Dr Stephen Ladyman told MPs examining the Road Safety Bill: ‘We have to get really tough with the hard core. Bad offenders need to feel the fingers on their collar.’ But he refused to provide detailed proposals for the variable fine system until the Bill becomes law.

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